The Netherlands is not a large country but it is one of the earliest and most powerful European colonial countries. It is not as geographically rich as its neighbor Spain, but it was their superior mercantile strategy that has made them so special among European. Although the country’s colonial power didn’t last very long its capital Amsterdam still remains one of the most important commercial centers of Europe.
It is a dream city for any travelers to visit. Apart from Amsterdam, Netherlands has many charms to offer to its visitors. Dutch art is one of the most influential ones in Europe. Its windmills and flower fields have a worldwide reputation. Here are our top 10 best places to visit in the Netherlands that would be very unwise to miss.
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Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands:
10. Gouda
Built on a swamp land, Gouda is a city in the province South-Holland with lots of old buildings and pretty canals. It is for many reasons one of the best places to visit in the Netherlands. For its great rail- and highway connections, it has become a good base for exploring the rest of the Netherlands. The town itself is full of tourist spots. The main attractions are the amazing glass windows in St. Janskerk and the beautiful 15th-century town hall.
Museum Gouda, the Waag (weigh house), Old City Hall at the Markt square are some of the other major attraction of Gouda. Gouda is famous for its Gouda cheese worldwide. Its stroopwafels (syrup waffles), candles and its clay pipes are also wonderful. Gouda is indeed one of the places to visit in the Netherlands.
9. Rotterdam
Rotterdam is one of the most important cities in Europe and one of the best places to visit in the Netherlands. It has the largest port in Europe. Before Shanghai, it was the busiest port in the world. Rotterdam is well known for its impressive architecture. The city is the best example of modern architecture. It is a bike friendly city. Visitors can explore several historic districts in Rotterdam. Erasmus Bridge is the signature architecture of this city. Its uniqueness and imposing beauty attract thousands of tourists.
Another most popular tourist spots are the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen where artworks from the Middle Ages to modern times are displayed. There are many other museums, remarkable monuments, zoo, and botanical gardens and so many other attractions around the city. There are only seven historical windmills left in this city. It is without a doubt one of the best places to visit in the Netherlands.
8. Groningen
Groningen is a vibrant university city and is the capital of the Northern Province. It is an important city especially concerning the arts, business, and education. It must be one of the places to visit in the Netherlands for museum lovers. Among these museums, the Groninger Museum is considered the most innovative and modern and also one of the major tourist attractions in the Netherlands.
There are many other museums on various subjects like comic’s museum, graphical museum, a university museum, maritime museum and so on. The main attractions are the Grote Markt, Synagogue, Oude RKZ, and Old Roman Catholic Hospital and so on. In order to explore the city, a guided bike tour can be helpful. The city has the youngest average population in the Netherlands. There is no wonder why it is one of the best places to visit in the Netherlands.
7. Haarlem
The capital of the province of North Holland, Haarlem is a classic Dutch city of historic buildings, grand churches, fine cafes, cozy bars, and cobbled streets. Locally it is called Bloemenstad, which means ‘flower city’. It is the home of the Annual Bloemencorso Parade naturally. Only 15 munities train ride will take you to the Amsterdam. A quick glance at the city center makes it certain why Haarlem is one of the places to visit in the Netherlands.
Along the shoreline of the Spaarne River boasts numerous intact medieval structures around town. It is a perfect tourist place in the Netherlands for shopping and perusing the stunning architecture and museums along the Grote Markt city center. It is also a wonderful city for cycling. It is not only one of the best places to visit in the Netherlands but also a lucrative city in Europe.
6. Utrecht
This historical medieval city is one of the popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands. It is also known as the student city. The most unique feature of the city is its canal wharf system that was created to stave off parts of the Rhine River from invading the city center. It is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in the Netherlands. The University of Utrecht is the largest college in the Netherlands.
The city is gifted with some of the major tourist attractions in the Netherlands such as Dom church, Centraal Museum, the Inktpot, Nationaal Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement and so on. The best things to do in the Netherlands are to take a bicycle tour or rent a canal bike and roam around. It is also one of the best places in the Netherlands for its exotic nightlife.
5. Maastricht
Maastricht is the capital city of the province of Limburg. It is a city with a touch of different cultures. For this, it has the second highest number of national heritage sites after Amsterdam. Maastricht is mainly developed from the Roman settlement. It is one of the earlier industrial cities in Europe. Maastricht is mainly well known as the birthplace of the European Union, European citizenship, and the single European currency.
Maastricht is an energetic and lovely place with a sophisticated food and drink. It is indeed one of the best places to visit in the Netherlands. The city stands on the Roman and Spanish ruin. One of the best things to do in the Netherlands is to hit the Coffeeshops of the city as the law for soft drugs like weed, hash and magic mushroom are lenient here. It is without a doubt one of the best places to visit in the Netherlands.
4. The Hague
The Hague is well known for its contemporary art exhibition at the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis and the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag. It is without a question one of the places to visit in the Netherlands. It is a real place filled with mansions and embassies, a series of museums, green boulevards and parks, and a lavish café culture. It is the seat of the Dutch parliament and known as the “judicial capital of the world” due to the many international courts that are situated in this area.
Although having all these, it is not a capital. Dutch Royalty citizens often come to visit the seaside resort of Scheveningen in a warmer month. The Hague offers endless charms to its visitors and visiting this city is one of the best things to do in the Netherlands. There is no way to complete your journey without visiting this one of the extraordinary tourist places in the Netherlands.
3. Delft
The magical city of Delft has been flourished since the Renaissance. The best thing about Delft is its originality and unspoiled beauty with traditional architecture and canals. It is without any confusion one of the best places to visit in the Netherlands. With its narrow, canal-lined streets and imposing architecture, Delft poses an irresistible beauty that the tourists could hardly deny.
The major attractions of Delft are Nieuwe Kerk, Oude Kerk, De Prinsenhof, Science Centre Delft, formerly Techniekmuseum and so on. Vermeer Centrum Delft offers a view on the works and life of Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer. The best things to do in this city are to walk around because it is the rare one that allows tourists to roam without a crowd.
2. Leiden
Leiden is the fairytale town of Europe. The city looks as if it is woven with canals. With its old windmill, wooden bridges, picturesque parks, it creates a hypnotic beauty. It is the city for an artist. The city offers a soothing experience to its visitors. A boat ride down one of these lovely canals is one of the best things to do in the Netherlands.
Leiden is also famous as the birthplace of famous Dutch painter Rembrandt’s. It is also home of the oldest and most prestigious university of Netherlands where Einstein was a regular professor. The major attractions of this city are Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal and so on. Leiden is the golden place for the tourists.
1. Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the most important commercial cities in Europe. It is one of the first cities in Europe that unites Europe and during the early colonial era, it was the investment hub and power source of Netherlands and one of the reasons to make the Netherlands flourish during the early century. It is without a doubt one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations.
It is a city where the party never ends. It is also popular among the tourists for its lenient law for soft drugs and its café shops have become a cultural icon throughout the world. The historic importance of Amsterdam is no less. There is no way to avoid the irresistible charm of Amsterdam.